Champion Speedway opens for the season on May 27

Great news for local racing fans! Champion Speedway in Owego will open its doors for its 37th season on Sunday, May 27, at 6 p.m. with the East Coast Spring Classic / Patrick Ahlund Championship.

This summer marks the 22nd year for track Promoter, Jason Bonsignore, by far the longest term of any of the track’s owners and the 37th year of actual races at the venue; although if you include season’s in which the facility was not used, this is the 43rd year, which makes it one of the oldest racing sites in the whole country. 

The action promises to be hot in 2018 with a highly anticipated battle of four or five stars that could win on any given night. They include the current track Champion, Casey Donholt of Port Crane, who scored an upset victory in the U.S. Open National in 2015; Adam Mittl of Endicott, who has five track Championships; Lenny McBride of Windsor, who has four Titles and has made a full-time racing comeback; and Jeremy Parsons of Vestal, who has won the Points Title before, are the early favorites. 

Redmond Bohannon, a fast up and coming rider from Colorado who represented himself well at Champion at last season’s U.S. Open Championship with a 7th overall, will be flying in to compete May 27.    

Brian Hollenbeck of Owego, another fast rider, and Jesse Diem of Pennsylvania are expected to make some events this summer. Smooth riding veterans David Meldrum, Jerry Harman, Keith Hawkins, Gene Bonsignore, Jeff Garlinghouse, Ron Walker, Russ Cornell, Dave Oakden, Alex Heath and more, are all targeted to be riding at some point. 

Harman and Oakden are on the mend from injuries and may miss the first couple weeks. Promising speedy youngsters like Spencer Portararo, Mason Higley, Johnny Scheg, Dalton Oakden, Adam Mittl Jr. and Levi Harris will be looking to make an impact at the famous local track this season, while a few veteran shockers may be in store. Former fan favorite rider and track announcer, “Krazy” Kraig Moss, is making a comeback at the Spring Classic.

The track also has a commitment this season from popular announcer, Paul Szmal, to handle the mic for all speedway events in 2018 as well as promoting the dirt go-kart series the track will be hosting on off motorcycle weeks. 

Start time for Sunday is 6 p.m. Admission prices are $12 for adults, and $5 for children six to 12. Parking is free. 

There is also great food and a go-kart fun track on site. Hopefully the go-kart track will be re-opened in June. Rick and Margaret Decker of Windsor have done a great job of re-opening the BMX track on site as well. 

More information can be found at www.eastcoastspeedway.com or www.speedwaybikes.com.